o.k. i'm freaking out a bit....my husband just invited more people to dinner....?

Question

and we no longer can accomodate everyone at our dining room table and can no longer accomodate enough food on our grill.

here's the situation:
we now have 8 adults and 3 kids (3-5 yrs old) coming to dinner tomorrow night. it's great they are all coming and i'm happy about it, but now, i see my nice dinner turning into burgers and dogs.
i HAD planned beer can chicken, grilled aspargus, baked mac and cheese and maybe roasted potatoes. However, there's no way our grill can hold that many chickens...i was thinking i'd need 4 chickens for 8 adults.
also, i have no more room at my dining table and we don't really have the space for even a card table at the end.

does anyone have at least any meal suggestions for a nice, easy dinner for 8 people??? (we'll probably make hot dogs for the kids)
i'd like to use the grill and i'd like it to be a little more exciting than burgers and dogs.
if i can get the meal figured out, then maybe i can figure out the seating!

thanks!

o.k. thanks everyone!!!

i decided to do kabobs, asparagus, mac and cheese and maybe potatoes and rice.
as for those who are telling me i'm making too much....i'm feeding Marines (the have pretty good appetites:) whethere they're drinking or not!

the seating we'll figure out when i get home. base housing doesn't leave a lot of room, so we'll figure it out..but thanks everyone!!!!!

Answer 1

We just did a meal for 10 people (7 adults, 3 kids) and we did kabobs and grilled asparagus. Everyone loved it and ate their fill. We just sat in chairs outside, no tables.

Answer 2

Forget the dinning room table. Sit outside! Or if it's too hot or rainy, have an indoor pic-nic instead! Also, you'll most likely be OK with 3 medium chickens for 8 adults. Try doing the chicken in the oven. Use the grill for a twist on the veggies and potatoes, even throw in some roasted corn on the cob for the kids! Make the baked mac and cheese ahead of time, so all you have to do is warm it in the microwave while the chicken is finishing up! For the kids, I would ask the parents what they will eat. We have about 8-10 people over every Saturday, and we always let the parents of the kids know what's for dinner so if they don't like it, we can get something else or they can bring something for the kids. Hope it helps! Try not to stress! All will be fine and the point is to ENJOY your company, not worry about where to eat! Have fun!!!

Answer 3

First of all just relax.Don't stress, everything will be fine.4 chix for 8 adults is too much! 2-3 should be fine you could also do grilled pork tenderloin it will take up less space on the grill.Cook the hotdogs on the grill ahead of time for the kids and then heat them back up in the microwave.You can roast the asparagus in the oven with E.V.O.O. and garlic at the same time you do the potatoes and the mac and cheese can be made the day before.Or you can always make veggie kabobs to go with the chix, you can find wooden skewers at the grocery just soak them in water for an hour so they don't burn. Lay out a picnic for the kids with colorful napkins and curly straws and they will be fine also get each of them a new box of crayons and a new coloring book.Everyone doesn't have to eat at the same time, especially when you have a big group, just get really sturdy paper plates and set them out with plasticwear (I put plasticwear in pretty glasses by the plates) and some pretty paper napkins.Also if you are deadset on sticking with your origional plan ask someone to bring an extra pit or borrow your next door neighbors.Also set out some crackers with spinich dip mix sour cream with lipton vegitable soup, mayo, chopped water chesnuts, and chopped spinich that way everyone has something to pick at while everything else is cooking.Then just get some fresh berries and whip cream for desert.Ask everyone coming to bring some wine pour a big glass and sit back and watch how everything will come together, and they are comparing you to Martha Stewart!Oh, and don't forget the flowers. they are a small touch but do a lot!Have fun and good luck!

Answer 4

Call me a WHAAAAbulance. My god woman this is not about how you get to show off your chicken, grilled asparagus, etc. I've grilled on two grills at once food for 40 people. This included chicken breast, hotdogs, brats, burgers, and steaks. Baked mac and cheese will please the kids. As will burgers (maybe) and hot dogs (definitely). Some may like the chicken but doubtful. If you MUST make chicken for them, get a bag of frozen drumsticks. I don't know of too many kids that eat any chicken pieces other than drumsticks.

This is a cook out. WTF are you needing to seat everyone at the main table? Put up a bunch of chairs, some TV trays, etc. Or better yet set up some tables outside with many lawn chairs, paper plates, plastic spoons and forks and make a picnic. Nice dinners are for a couple or two couples. Go with the flow and enjoy the company of friends.

As far as what to make. Cut the chicken breasts into cubes. Marinate in your favorite spices etc. Put the chicken on Shish Ka Bob sticks (I use wooden "disposable" sticks). If you have whole chickens, cut them up now and slow roast them (in the oven) as pieces. They can be partially cooked before hand so the grill time is a lot shorter. The same is true for brats (if you don't use pre cooked brats). Simmer them in water/beer for half an hour to an hour if raw. Baked mac and cheese is great and not that difficult. What's the worry here?

Oven roast the potatos ahead of time or forget them all together and get a big bucket of potato salad. Get a bunch of corn on the cob (save time and get the nibbler frozen mini corn cobs) and boil them up. This takes (depending on the type you buy) ten minutes of boiling to complete. A few cans of baked beans always helps out a picnic.

If you still must have a "grand cookout" get a cheap ($10 to $20) picnic grill. Use it for the extra space. Like I said I've cooked family reunion meals for 40 plus people on two grills. This was out at a cabin with no running water or no stove. Surely you can pre stage a lot of this using the oven and stove top.

Again, forget the "grand ball room" seating as if you are planning a wedding or some other fancy party. This is a cookout. Get couple folding tables or even TV trays and place them around. The three kids can sit at a special table for the kids. (Possibly in front of a TV with a Disney DVD going) so the adults can have a few minutes to relax.


ADDENDUM: After seeing the update I note that you are feeding Marines. Good for you. To this list I add a stack of the Dominos $5 pizzas (three pizzas, $5 each deal).




PS Don't forget buns/bread, slices of onion, lettuce, tomato, etc. A seedless watermelon would do good for dessert. Some frozen ICEIES or popsicles for the kids. Don't forget the wet wipes!

Answer 5

You can still have your nice dinner. The kids might be interested in the chicken but not enough to add an extra chicken for them. Keep hotdogs on hand for them. I think you're over processing. Remember whole chickens have 8 pieces each. I think 2 chickens should be fine or you'll have chicken coming out of your ears. Keep the asparagus and mac and cheese but lose the potatoes. Have some french fries for the kids to go with the hotdogs.

As far as the seating arrangements, if you have a patio/backyard, split it up between the patio/backyard and dining room, or if the patio/backyard is big enough, everyone outside.

Answer 6

Not sure if using a different kind of meat is an option but it might be faster than grilling chickens. I par-bake my ribs covered in foil in the oven @ 350F and par-boil the red potatoes before putting them on the grill. You can do this ahead of time so you can still make the baked mac and cheese. (BTW, make sure you remove the membrane on the back of the ribs or the meat won't fall off the ribs.)

After about half-hour in the oven (or however long you prefer to pre-cook them), grill the ribs and baste them often during grilling so it'll absorb the BBQ sauce. It should only take 15 minutes since it's already almost cooked. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch slices, season them with olive oil, salt and pepper, and grill them with the seasoned vegetables. They should take the same amount of time to brown.

Answer 7

Grill some chicken ahead of time - make a big tossed salad - what's nice about grilling is that you can keep adding more - put all the food on the table and make it buffet style put blankets out on the lawn and let the keds sit outside also adults and have plently of good music on - btw you are already serving too much food

PS the best thing about grilling is to let your hubby take over and just have fun with your guests

Answer 8

Think about it like this: people are not starving when they sit down to a meal. DO NOT make it a sit down meal. Put things in small serving dishes, even splitting one dish into two, i.e. potato salad in two bowls, one at each end of the table. Stay in the kitchen for most of the time... most people will stand in there talking to you. Divide your time and also go sit on the floor. Lay out blankets on the grass with a magazine or two on them. Prepare just what you planned to prepare...don't make any more additions (well, just this last one I'm about to recommend) that will just make you crazy. Go to ALDI or a discount grocer and buy lots of hot dogs and lots of buns, extra ketchup and mustard. Put the hot dogs in a big pot and sit the pot outside near the grill after boiling them. People eat hot dogs!!! Again, these people will not be starving when they get there...it is the festivities that thrill them. When the food is gone simply clear the empty dishes...but the food will not run out trust me. People will have eaten other meals that day. Have fun and realize this is only one day out of many.... settle down and have more fun than anyone. Also...everyone won't show up.

Answer 9

First of all, you can cook ahead, if you have the time, so you don't need to do it all at once on the grill.

That being said, you could offer grilled chicken wraps with saffron rice - my wife makes this. Marinate the breasts in something like a Good Seasons salad dressing, then pound them flat. Grill, then take the finished breasts and slice into strips.

For the rice, just by Carolina Yellow Rice - it comes in a tube-like cellophane package. Prepare that, and mix in sauted onions and peppers.

Mix the chicken in with the rice, onions and peppers. Take that mixture and make the wraps.

You can zap the wraps in the microwave for 20 seconds so they are served hot, if necessary.

Answer 10

One fun and easy solution would be fajitas. They are easy to make, and they can be very fun, espescially with children, as you assemble your own. They feed a crowd, a little can go a long way, and they break any ice in the conversation at the table because they are "interactive."

Ideally you would want to purchase one or two flank steaks and marinade them overnight in the refrigerator. They cook in no time on the grill. Slice them thin, diagonally AGAINST THE GRAIN, and serve on a platter. You can still make one or two beer can chickens if you want, but do that ahead of time, let the birds rest in a roasting pan in the kitchen for an hour, and slice the meat off the bones and platter it up just the same as you would the steak.

Traditional accompaniments to fajitas are flour tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and grilled vegetables. You can grill so many types of veggies, from asparagus, corn on the cob, to thick slices of onions or tomatoes. (With the onion and the tomatoes, make sure that they well covered with oil. And with the corn, boil it for a few minutes before putting them on the grill.)

So here's your plan of action for your grill:

1) Make your beer can chicken a few hours ahead of time. Let rest like I mentioned before.

2) Grill up your flank steak when your guests arrive. Remember to let the steak rest for 20 minutes before you slice it.

3) 15 minutes before you eat, start grilling the vegetables. While they are cooking, you can slice your flank steak and platter it up.

Now you can bring everything to the table nice and hot, but not too hot to handle.

I hope this works for you. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll tell you a great way to make baby back ribs without crowding your grill too badly.

Answer 11

You can still do the chicken. start earlier and then place the chicken in the oven to keep warm.
You have a grill outside, so there has to be some room to seat people out there.
What about just letting it be a relaxing dinner and let people sit wherever they wish? (living room watching t.v., outside or at the table)
The main thing to keep in mind is that if you are not having a good time, no one else will either.